Knitted fabric



July 69 i929. c. HADF'IELD KNITTED' FABRIC AFiled Deo, 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l lab - /f illllllIl-lllillllllc. HADFIELD KNITTED FABRIC www@ Filed Deo. l2. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,d n n un a l immaggini v 27x L,

' Patented .lively lid, E922@ 'par srs 'M 'annate CLAUDE NADFIELD, or PHILADELPHIA, l'rENNsYLvANIA, AssIeNoa or ONE-HALF To FRANK B. FINTH, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

NNITTEp FABRIC.

y Application led December 12,1928. Serial Ko. 325,515.

- l0..rality ofrectangular blocks throughout the fabric. l

lThe construction ofthe fabric and the process bye which the block dening lines are formed will be fully disclosed hereinafter,f reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a diagrammat'c side view-of a stocking made in accordance with the principles ofmy invention;" v l .s )F ig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view illustrating the stitch formation of the fabric shown in Fig. 1, o

Fig. 3 is an enlargeddiagrammatic view of aV portion of the fabric;

"a modification of the invention; and 4 Fig. 5 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 showing the stitch formation of the fabric shown inFig. 4.

"in accordance with the principles of my invention and in the form of a stocking 1. The stocking 1- comprises a leg or body portion 2,

a welt 3, an instep 4, a reinforced toe top 5,

a reinforced foot sole 6, a reinforced heel `As shown in the drawing the lines 9 and 10 cross at substantially right angles toveach other, thereby defining a plurality of sub- P .stantially rectangular design blocks 11.

As shown in Fig. 2, the blocks 11 are formed of a plurality of regular stitches 12, that is,

the stitches 12 are of regular uniform length and are formed in the regula-r manner on successive adjacently positioned needles of-l the knitting` machine on which the fabric is being produced.'

vThe longitudinal or walewise lines 9 and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing In Fig. "1, l have illustrated a fabric Iliade pocket 7, and a highsplice heel reinforce 8. Extending longitudinally 'of the stocking,-

the transverseor coursewise lines 10 are pro- 55 duced by forming relatively open spaces in the fabric, which, by contrasting with the regular stitches 12'of the blocks 1-1, define the outlines of the said blocks.

Ilfhe open spaces constituting the trans- @0 i verse lines 10 are respectively produced by Vforming what is known in the art as a loose course, that is, a course of stitches 13 which r are of greater length than the aforesaid regular stitches 12; rlhese loose courses .13 are 65 formed at predetermined intervals throughout the length. of the fabric.

For example,l may produce six courses vof regular stitches 12 and thena course of elon'lf gated stitches- 13, then another series of six .70.' regular courses, then another loose course, and so onthroughout the production of a strip of, fabric.

rlhe longitudinally extending or walewise open spaces constituting'the lines 9 may be 75 formed byeither of two ways, that is, by what is known as drop stitching or by what is known as needle out.

VAThe first mentioned way of Aproducing the Walewise spaces, which constitute the lines 9, is used in the formation of the fabric such i as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. o

ln the production vof the fabric shown in Figs. 1 and 2a stitch, is formed on each and every one of the regularly or uniformly vspaced needles 14 of the machine, which are operating during the knitting of the fabric. A desired number of courses of regular stitches, such as the stitches 12, are formed in the regular manner, then a loose course, such as the stitches 13, is formed. v

At such time as a loose courseis about to be.' formed,vthe s titch is dropped from each of a predeterminednumber of the needles which have been knitting, for example, every sev- 9a enth needle indicated at 14 may be designated to drop its stitch.

The needles-which have been designatedV as those from which the stitches are to be droplv l l pcd have their beards or latches closed-'100; at such time as theremaining needles arereceiving or having a thread w sunk round ltheir shanks below thev beards or latches for the formation of the neXt course of. stitches,v

9so that when the needles are operated to` cast 105 their stitches over their hooks in thefusual.

manner the said designated needles 14, having no thread within their hooks,.cast or drop the stitches held on their respectiveshanks. The preclosing of the beards or latches of l the needles 14a may lbe effected by means of points 15 which are secured in a carrier 15a and brought to bear upon the needles as indicated in Fig. 2, the points 15 following Ithe previously formed courses of stitches,

Y previously 'formed loose course has *been* the stitches in these previous courses which were formed on the needles which have dropped their stitches become unlooped from the corresponding stitches of the next vpreviously formed course, and so on up throughV y thefabrc, these unlooped stitches becoming stra-ight floats such as vindicated at 16 in Fig. 2. A runner will not progress beyond a loose at the time a loose course is abolut to be formed.v The ensuing runner will then progress up-' wardly through the previously. formed courses of regular stitches` until the next reached, thereby forming the open spaces which constitute the walewise lines 9.,

As shown in Fig. 1, the block defining lines donot extend through the welt portion 3` of the stocking 1, this is accomplished by forming the first loose course 13@ at a predetermined point below the extreme top edge of thestocking, or in other words at or adjacent `to the lower extremity of the welt.

` Asv a precautionary measure, to insure against the drop stitching running into the `welt beyond the loose course 13a from rough usage, any form of suit-able lock stitch may be provided atfthis point, for example, a line of chain stitches. 17 may be'run transversely ofthe fabric, through the loose course 1391 This line of chain ,stitches may be produced by a sewing machine or any ofthe other ma chines adapted for this purpose and known.

to the art.

high splice heel reinforce 8 or theheel pocket 7.

Dropped stitches will not' runy down through the fabric, that is, after a stitch has been dropped and the needle picks upI thread on the knitting of the next course and continuesto knit thereafter the runner will not I extend itself into the courses formed after the course in which the stitch has -been dropped, the stitches interlocking in the manner indicated inAFig. 3, so, iflthe stitches are dropped at the course 1 3" at the upperedg or beginningof the high splice heell 8, the

runner forming the spaces constituting thev Vlines 9a and9", for example, will not progress downwardly into the high splice heel `8.

` .together by v The loose coursesvlc, intermediate the course 13b and the'course 13d at the upper end of the toe-top' 5, will terminate Aon each side of the stocking at the edges 8a of the high splice heel 8 and the upper edges 6% of the foot sole 6.

A stocking made in accordance with my inventionfmay be formed on either a fiat full fashioned knitting lmachine or on a circular seamless knitting machine.

course, therefore,I prefer to Vvdrop the st-itchesfan operative position at predetermined intervals when it is desired to drop the stitches to start the runners as above noted. t

The lstocking shown in Fig. 4 is made y the alternate way of producing the open spaces which constitute the longitudinal lines '.9, that is,'by the needle out process.

In producing the stocking lB shown in Figs. 4 and 5, needles are removed from the needle bar at predetermined intervals, for example, every seventh needle may be removed which walewise of the fabric.

the place where afloat occu'rs, around which -will produce floats 16a in a line extending the `thread would ordinarily be sunk'bythe 'i sinkers of the machine, the floats 16a ofthe aneedle out fabric are shorter than the floats 16 of the drop stitch fabric shown in Figs.' 1 and 2, consequently the open spaces constituting the lines or stripes 9a of the fabric shown in-Figs. 4l and 5 are narrower than the corresponding lines or stripes 9 of the fabric shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the lines or stripesff)a extend through the welt 3 and the heel tabs 7 b Vwhich form the heel pocket 7B.

The stockings shown in Figs. 1 and 4 may havewhat is known in the art as a French foot or what is known as an English foot.

In theA formation of the French foot the welt, leg and heel tabs ofthe stocking are `formed on oneirnacline (the legger), after which the partial blank is transferredto an rio other machine (the footer) wh'ereon the in step, toe top, and foot sole are knit. The edges of the fiat blank thus produced are then joined l sewing orf looping to complete the stocking. 1 Inthe formation of the English foot the Welt, leg, heel tabs, and instep are formed on one machine, then the partial blank is' placed on a topping bari, the last formed course of the instepi which is that immediately adj acentthe 75 In the drawings, I lhave shown the fabric straight floats, the floats ofthe coursewisc" toe top of the stocking is placed on the topping bar and the inside edge of each of the respec-` tive heel tabs is placed on the topping on either side of the instep. The blank is then transferred tothe needles of a knitting machine, from the topping bar. The instep stitches are placed'below the knockingover bits`r and the heel tab stitches placed above' the said knocking over bits,thus vthe needles having the heel tabs thereon -will receive thread and knitsuccessive courses of stitches which form the foot sole halves. When the desired number of foot sole courses have been knitted the instep stitches are raised above the knocking overbits and the needles carrying these instep stitches then' receive thread to form successive courses which unitewith the subsequently formed courses of the foot sole to form the toe top of the stocking.

The flat bank is then removed from the Inachine, the selvage edges of the instep and the adjacent infier. selvage edges of the foot sole halves are joined together to form the foot.

VVThe outer edges of the' flat blank are then joined. together to complete the stocking.

When employing the drop stitchl7 method of producing the walewise'fd'efining lines, vI prefer to use the `French foot, and when I employ the needle out processI prefer to use the English foot, for reasonsof facilitatv ing the manufacture of the stockings under4 the different methods of producing the walewise lines, the French foot being more adaptable to the drop stitch method, where- `as the English foot is more adaptable to the needle out method From the above description, it will be obvious that I produce aplurality of solidblocks each composed of aplurality of courses ofregular, uniformly diinensioned stitches, and ltie theseblocks together by substantially defining lines being formed bythe thread constituting the sides of theloops in the loose course stitches 13, while the fioatslof` the walewise defining lines are formed by' the threads which'would normally constitute the stitches of spaced wales of the fabric.

l. A knitted fabric comprising a plurality of blocks defined by a plurality of relatively, spaced lines extending coursewise of the fabric and a plurality of relatively spaced lines extending walewiseof the fabric, each block comprising a plurality of courses of stitches of uniform dimensions, each of said dening lines comprising a lrelatively open space lextending between adjacent blocks, anda plurality of substantially straight threads ex' tending across the said open spaces and con'- nected at their opposite endsto the said adjacent blocks. 1

2. A knitted fabric compisig a piualay l of blocks defined'by a plurality of r latively spaced lines extending coursewise o the fabric and a plurality of relatively spaced lines extending walewise of the fabric, each block comprising a plurality of courses of stitches ofwuniform dimens1ons,'each of sald defining lines comprisinga relatively open .space extending-:between adjacent blocks, each of said coursewisedefining lines comprising a course of elongated stitches, and 4each of said walewise defining lines comprising a plurality of substantially straight floating threads extending across thev said open space between the edges of adjacent blocks.

3. A knittedfabric comprising a plurality of blocksdefined by a plurality of relatively spaced lines extending coursewise of the fabric and a plurality of relatively :spaced lines extending walewise of the fabric, each block n I I stantially straight floating threads extending across the said lopen space between the 'jedges of adjacent blocks, and connected at their opposite ends to corresponding courses of the said adjacent blocks.

4. A knitted fabric comprising a plurality of blocks defined by aplurality of relatively spaced lines rextending coursewise of the fabric and a plurality of relatively spaced lines\ extendingwalewise of the fabric, each block comprising a plurality of courses of stitches 16o of uniform dimensions, each of said defining I lines comprising a relatively' open space -extending between adjacent blocks, each'of said coursewise definingsl-in'es comprising a" course of elongated stitches, each rofsaid walewise defining lines 'comprising a plurality of substantially straight floatingthreads extending L' l 4across the .saidopen space between the edges of adjacent blocks, and connected at their opposite ends to corresponding courses of the V said adjacent blocks, the said oats of each of said walewise lines being composed of the threads'of an unlooped series of stitches which j f normally constitute the wale superseded by said .walewise open space.

5. A knitted fabric comprising' a' plurality of blocks defined by a plurality of relatively spaced lines extendingcoursewise of the fabric and a ,plurality o f relatively spaced lines extending walewise of the fabric, each` block comprising a plurality of courses .of stitches of uniform dimensions, each coursewise defining line being' composed of a course of elongated stitches, and each walewise defining line being composed of floats created by eliminating the stitches of successive courses in ahline extendingwalewise of the fabric which normally would 'consttte a wale in the fabric..

6." A stocking, comprising a ,leg portion, welt, an instep, a toe top, a foot sole, a heelf 'pocket and a high splice heel reinforced area,

of which at least a `portion of the leg is composed of a fabric formed by a plurality of blocks defined by a plurality of lines extending Walewise of the fabric and a plurality of pocket and a high splice heel reinforced area,

of which at least the leg and instep portions are composed of alfabric formed by a plurality ofV blocks defined by a plurality of lines ex;

.tending walewise of the fabric and a plurality of lines extending coursewise of the fabric, each blockcomprising a plurality of.

courses. of stitches of uniform dimensions,

each of' said coursewise defining lines being composed of a course of relatively longer stitches than those of the said blocks, each of said Walewise defining lines being composed of floats created y eliminating the stitches of successive courses in aline extending Walewise of the fabric which would norniallyA constitute a Wale in the fabric, and .means for preventing said walewise lines from running into the Welt portion of the stocking.

' 8. A stocking, 'comprising a leg portion, a

Welt', an instep, a toe top, a foot sole, a heel pocket and a high splice heel reinforced area, of vwhich at least the leg and instep portions are composed of a fabric formed by a plurality of blocks defned'by a plurality of lines .extending walewise of the fabric and a .plurality of lines-extending coursewise of the fabric, each block comprising a plurality of courses 4of' stitches of uniform dimensions, each of lsaid coursewise defining lines being composed of a course of relatively longer stitches than those-of the said blocks, each of said Walewise defining lines being composed of fioats created `by eliminating the stitches ofv successive courses in a line extending walewiseof the fabric which would normally` constitute a Wale in the fabric, means for preventing said walewise lines from running into the welt portion of the stocking, and meansl for preventing the said walewise'` lines from extending into the toe top of the stocking; y

9F A stocking, comprising a leg portion, a welt,'an instep, a toe top, a foot sole, a heel pocket and a high "splice heel reinforced area,

offwhichfatleast the leg and instep portions .are composed of a fabric formed by a pluralyity of blocks definedby a plurality of lines extending Walewise of the fabric and a plurality of lines extending coursewise ofthe fabric, each block comprisinga plurality of courses of stitches of uniform dimensions,

preventing the saidwalewise lines from extending into the toe top and heel reinforce portions of the stockings.

10. A process for knitting ai fabric composed of blocks defined by a plurality of lines extending coursewise of the fabric and a plurality of lines extending Walewise of the fabric, said process comprising the knitting of a plurality of courses of regular stitches of unip form predetermined dimensions, then knitting a course of stitches relatively longer than the said regular stitches, to form a coursevvise defining line, repeating the alternate knitting of courses of regular and elongated stitches throughout the length of the fabric, and eliminating predetermined stitches of each course atlspacedy intervals across the fabric to form the said Walevvise defining lines.

11. A process for knitting a fabric composed of blocks defined by a plurality of lines extending coursewise of the fabric and a plurality of lines extending Walewise of the fabric, said process comprising the knitting of a plurality of courses of regular stitches of uniform predetermined dimensions, then knittinga course of stitches relatively-longer than the said regular stitches, to form a coursewise defining line, repeating the alternate knitting of courses of regular and elongated stitches throughout the length of the fabric, and dropping predetermined stitches vat predetermined spaced intervals across the fabric at predetermined times during the knitting of said courses, whereby said dropped stitches will cause runners to extend from the course in which said stitches were dropped through the previously formed courses of stitches, thereby producing the said Walewise defining lines. v v l 412. A process for knitting a fabric composed of blocks defined by a plurality of lines extending coursewise of the fabric and a plurality of lines extending Walewise of the fabric, said process comprising-the knitting of a plurality of. courses of, regular stitches of uniformv predetermined dimensions, then knitting a course of stitches relatively longer 'nate knitting of courses of regular and elongated stitches throughout the length of the fabric, dropping predetermined stitches at predetermined spaced intervals across thejfabric at predetermined times during the knitting of said courses, whereby said dropped 5 stitches will cause runners to extend' from the through the previously formed courses of stitches, thereby producing the said Walewise defining lines, and introducing a chain of stitches coursewise of the fabric Which interlock With the stitches of one of said courses, to preventsaid runners from extending beyond apredetermined point in said fabric.

CLAUDE HADFIELD. 

